SSN-RC-2022-012 - Keep Rockland Beautiful Inc. to Provide Fall Waterways & Great American Cleanup

The County of Rockland Department of Environmental Resources is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Keep Rockland Beautiful, Inc. for the provision of Fall Waterways and Great American Cleanup Campaign and Environmental Education Programs for Rockland County Youth.

This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.

TERM: JANUARY 1, 2022- DECEMBER 31, 2022

The contract fills a need for:

Bi-annual cleanup and education campaigns, the Fall Waterways Cleanup and Great American Cleanup, employ hands-on civic engagement to provide invaluable experiential environmental education to thousands of volunteers of all ages throughout Rockland.  These campaigns not only remove tons of harmful litter and pollutants from the County’s streets, parks and waterways, they are an excellent vehicle for teaching about litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and natural resource protection. 

Target Population:
 

• The Fall Waterways and Great American Cleanup Campaigns serve the 326,000+ residents of Rockland County.  In 2021, over 2,767 volunteers will remove litter and debris from every town and nearly every village and hamlet in the County.  KRB continues to oversee these growing campaigns and engage more volunteers in the less well represented and largely disadvantaged communities in the western and northern areas of the County.

• The cleanup campaigns engage volunteers of all ages in every town, and nearly every village and hamlet in Rockland. Participants range from families with young children, scout and school groups to adult and senior volunteers from businesses and civic organizations. Provide data collection and analysis of demographics in order to better engage volunteers and address the needs of all members of our community. 

• Engage 2,500+ cleanup volunteers of every age, gender, color, cultural background, and socio-economic status throughout Rockland in a productive and satisfying volunteer service experience that creates cleaner, healthier communities and a strong sense of place and pride, while building and fostering environmental awareness and proactive stewardship of the environment.  Cleanups provide a powerful lens on the impacts of our behavior on the environment and each other.  They affirm the restorative healing power of coming together for the community and enjoying the gifts of the natural environment around us.
• Raise environmental awareness in the community by engaging 2,500+ volunteers in a meaningful, hands-on learning experience. Volunteers will learn how litter and pollutants affect our watersheds, natural habitats, and public health, as well as the steps they can take to prevent litter and waste, such as ubiquitous single-use plastics, and decrease the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.  KRB’s visible marketing and social media campaigns go well beyond the reach of cleanup participants.  KRB has a database of over 6,000 active contacts and a robust social media presence.  Our online Sustainability Center has a host of environmental resources.
• Collect 3,000+ bags of trash equaling over 30+ tons of debris removed from our streets, parks, beaches, and waterways, creating more beautiful and healthy communities.
• Deliver 1,300+ bags of recyclables to the Materials Recovery Center in Hillburn, thereby reducing the amount of waste being transported to landfills and increasing the amount of recyclable products available for resale and repurpose.  This translates to more revenue to the county, less virgin resources and energy used in manufacturing, fewer pollutants in the environment, and a reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.
• Engage 1,000+ individuals in the underserved communities of Ramapo and North Rockland and broaden and deepen collaborative partnerships that strengthen our ability to understand and serve the needs of all their members.

• Over 1,500 students and 150 teachers and parent volunteers from throughout Rockland County will experience Earth BEAT in 2020-2021 academic year. At least, one third of these participants will reside in underserved communities of the county.  If the program must be delivered completely virtually, these figures may be reduced to 1,000 and 50 respectively.
• Students participating in Earth BEAT will be better prepared and inspired to help reduce waste, conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, save water and protect our watersheds, preserve local habitats and native species in our community, and make healthy, sustainable food choices.
• Teachers participating in Earth BEAT will benefit from student participation in activities that compliment and enrich their curriculum and inspire interactive learning, locally-based projects.
• Over 200 high school students from throughout Rockland will participate in RPLUS in the 2020-2021 academic year. Each of the participating schools will have three workings and their own culminating symposium with 2 – 3 professionals volunteering as mentors. At least, one third of the student participants will reside in underserved communities of the county.
• Students participating in RPLUS will understand and be able to apply key concepts and elements of sustainable land use planning and development learned in classroom workshops. This includes examples of green infrastructure, smart building design, transit-focused development, and actions to mitigate and develop resiliency to climate change.
• Professionals participating in the symposium as mentors will provide useful, real-world feedback and suggestions to students and gain fresh insights from participating youth
• Participation in RPLUS will heighten student’s awareness of local planning issues and their interest in engagement in community and in consideration of planning related careers.

• Experienced in providing the same or equivalent services

• Be a 501 (c)3
• Be governed by a Board of Directors
• Be up-to-date with all IRS filings
• Be up-to-date with all NYS filings
• Have a 2020 budget with Board approval
• Be fiscally sound
• Have a Non-discrimination Policy
• Have a Conflict of Interest Policy
• Submit quarterly and year end reports, including attendance lists for each group activity
• Demonstrated sufficient successful experience providing the above services.
• Be available for on-site visits, announced and unannounced